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Breeding stock sales at auction marts to resume if social distancing observed
The Livestock Auctioneers’ Association has agreed with Defra and the Welsh Government some sales of breeding stock can be carried out within newly established protocols which demonstrate social distancing measures.
Back in March, restrictions came into force which saw the sale of breeding stock at livestock marts cease to help limit the spread of Covid-19, with farmers turning to online selling platforms and selling stock farm to farm via auction mart web listings.
Today (April 21), the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) has issued further guidance to its members, allowing sales of breeding stocks to resume, but stressed this is not a ’relaxation’ of controls.
Safety
Chris Dodds, LAA executive secretary, said: “The heightened level of safety measures and security standards adopted by all LAA markets means, by following the same protocols, we have agreed that some breeding sales can commence from Monday April 27.
“Additional conditions will be implemented and extended to the sale of breeding animals, to ensure continued safe trade within LAA marts. This not a relaxation of controls, but an extension to the stringent conditions already implemented to allow for these sales.
“We will continue to work with Government officials to provide reassurance that market activity does not undermine the important public health priorities of stopping the spread of COVID-19."
The association also stated operational changes implemented to protect public health must remain in place, and all markets should continue to vigilantly implement social distancing measures.
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Following its discussions with the Scottish Government, the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) has also confirmed some classes of breeding sales will recommence under the latest guidelines.
IAAS executive director, Neil Wilson, said: “We have been working closely with the Scottish Government to find a workable solution to limit exposure to COVID-19 through marts whilst ensuring the livestock trade continues in a measurable and safe manner.
"Marts form a vital link in the wider food chain ensuring livestock from around the country can be fairly and transparently traded between farmers as well as onward to abattoirs enabling a consistent supply of high-quality primary products into the food chain."
Pedigree sales
However, show and sales, or sales which would normally generate a large gathering of people, such as special pedigree bull sales, are not permitted under this review.
As with stores sales, markets will encourage buyers to work together, buying on behalf of others where possible to reduce attendance numbers.
Markets were quick to update their customers.
Gisburn Auction Mart, Lancashire, posted on its Facebook page: “We are delighted to announce we are able to hold live auctions of breeding stock again, under strict restrictions on who can attend the market.
“These restrictions are exactly the same as those applied to current sales of fat and store stock which can be viewed on our website.”
North West Auctions, which runs sales at Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre and Lancaster Auction Mart, wrote on its Facebook page: "We are very pleased to announce that the LAA and Defra have extended the rules, allowing us to have live ring sales of breeding stock commencing from Monday April 27."
New procedures for breeding stock sales
Buyers
- Markets will enforce buyer restrictions to allow for social distancing, not allowing more people at the ringside than the 2m gap allows
- Markets strongly advise purchasers to ‘double up’, with one person to buy for multiple clients.
- All purchasers must register with the market and only ‘known’ purchasers will be given access to the market.
- Markets will ensure that the highest hygiene prevention measures are in place.
- All potential “gathering” points WILL be prevented and all cafes, mobile units etc WILL be closed
- Markets will keep a register of those that attend their sales – contact name, address and telephone number.
- At the conclusion of the sale buyers will be asked to enter the sales office in a way that does not result in too many entering at any one time.
- Buyers will be asked to sanitise on entry to the market and again on exit.
Vendors
- Markets will implement a “drop and go” policy for vendors to prevent any sellers from entering the market.
- Vendors MUST remain in their vehicles when they arrive at the market, the market staff will unload the vehicle at the loading dock, and the vendors vehicle must then leave the mart site immediately
- The sale documentation will be collected by the market staff from the vendor’s vehicle when they arrive at the unloading docks – Vendors MUST NOT take the paperwork to the market office, or enter the market pennage area for any reason.
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